Chapter 284: Countdown to Social Death
The fact that the Ministry of Rites had repeatedly modified the betrothal gifts to prevent Wu Qinghou from marrying Nanzhu had spread among some high-ranking officials and nobles.
Everyone knew that the Minister of Rites was a close subordinate of Princess Xiaoyue, so they naturally thought that this was instructed by the Princess to prevent the Meng family from marrying Wu Qinghou.
But in fact, this matter had nothing to do with Meng Qingqian, and even she had just heard about it.
The Minister of Rites Li Gongqin himself had no grudges against He Yuanhao, and who He Yuanhao chose as his daughter-in-law had nothing to do with Li Gongqin. The Ministry of Rites was so determined in this matter and dared to offend Wu Qinghou so much, there must be someone behind the scenes who instructed it.
In the entire court, except for herself, only the Queen Mother had the ability to use Li Gongqin.
The Queen Mother's bedroom.
Meng Qingqian, dressed in red, sat on the first seat of the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother has always been weak in dealing with her daughter. She was in the wrong for not letting Nanzhu and He Yunxiao get married, so she said in a slightly flattering tone: "Qingqian..."
Meng Qingqian said helplessly: "Mother, didn't I tell you not to interfere in political affairs?"
The Queen Mother said carefully: "The eldest princess's marriage, how can it be considered a political matter."
"Of course it is a political matter. Since ancient times, state affairs have been the affairs of our Meng family, and the affairs of the Meng family are naturally state affairs. The eldest princess is the emperor's sister, how can she be careless about marriage and funerals?"
The Queen Mother was speechless by her own daughter, so she had to respond "Yes, yes, yes" repeatedly.
Meng Qingqian said again: "My mother promised Wu Qinghou that Nanzhu would marry him, but she asked Minister Li to delay it. Why?"
The Queen Mother said seriously: "It is indeed a good idea to let Nanzhu marry Wu Qinghou. Wu Qinghou's family is in its heyday, and it is possible that she will be promoted to a duke in the future. I have also met his mistress, Miss Zhang, who is kind-hearted and will not make things difficult for Nanzhu."
Meng Qingqian was puzzled, "If that's the case, why doesn't my mother go with the flow and make a couple?"
The Queen Mother said firmly: "I don't feel right. Qingqian, my mother feels that if Nanzhu is allowed to marry the Marquis's mansion, you will suffer a great loss in the future! How can my mother watch and let my good daughter suffer? Naturally, I have to delay it and see if there are any variables."
Meng Qingqian was speechless.
Her mother was not stupid, but she was particularly superstitious about her unfounded intuition.
When the queen mother was in power, she intuitively believed that Han Wenxin was not a bad person, but she neglected to be vigilant and sent away half of the civil officials and most of the military generals who were originally on their side.
"Queen mother, those in high positions must not act on emotion."
"Queen mother knows, so this is not to let Qingqian take charge. Wait another three years, until your brother grows up, and we mother and daughter will be liberated."
Meng Qingqian looked at her extremely optimistic mother and sighed secretly in her heart. There is the Yan State watching covetously outside, and the Prime Minister Han is secretly fighting inside. Those in high positions want to be liberated? How can it be so easy.
"Queen mother, Xiaoyue will go to see Nanzhu."
"Okay, you go."
"By the way," Meng Qingqian walked two steps and turned back and said, "The Chengmao Palace next to my Changhe Palace has been uninhabited for many years. Why not let Nanzhu move out of the Linxuan Palace. The Linxuan Palace is too remote and it is not convenient to do things."
Although Meng Qingqian holds great power, the affairs of the harem are still decided by the queen mother.
The Queen Mother shook her head and said, "No. Your father left a will saying 'The women of Wei should live in Linxuan', have you forgotten?"
Then, the usually open-minded Queen Mother changed to a sour tone and said, "When Nanzhu's mother, Concubine Xuan, first entered the harem, she was favored by the six palaces with the title of 'the most beautiful woman in the world'. She was so popular that she almost overshadowed me, the Queen. However, even so, Concubine Xuan still lived in the remote Linxuan Palace. Even the late emperor never wanted her to change palaces."
"Forget it," the Queen Mother said, "It's all old news. Besides, Nanzhu is getting married soon, and she can't live in the palace for a few days. She should live in Linxuan Palace for the time being."
...
Outside the Linxuan Palace, the whole palace welcomed Princess Xiaoyue at the door.
Meng Qingqian sat in a sedan chair carried by eight people, dressed in red, with a cold face. Whether it was the golden phoenix embroidered on the red dress, or the well-equipped female servants with swords silently in front and behind the sedan chair, these foils all showed her majesty invisibly.
Xing'er and other maids had already knelt on the ground. Under such pressure, they didn't even have the courage to look directly at Meng Qingqian.
His Highness has a good temper and a kind heart, so it's okay for him to play around normally. But his Highness's sister, Princess Xiaoyue, is completely different. She is a female devil who wants to punish, exile, and kill people at any time.
Xing'er still remembers that the last time she saw His Highness Xiaoyue, she was almost sent to the Jiaofangsi by the eldest princess because of her words that offended her Highness.
Jiaofangsi is a place where life is worse than death for a good girl.
The sedan chair landed, and Meng Qingqian was helped to stand up by Jian Ling who was waiting on the side.
With a slight smile on her face, she looked at the only woman who did not kneel and said, "Nanzhu."
Meng Qingrou was much simpler than Meng Qingqian. She was naturally happy that her sister came to see her.
She smiled happily and said, "Nanzhu greets her sister."
"Let's go."
"Yes."
The two sisters walked side by side and walked towards Linxuan Palace. Meng Qingrou was used to being led by He Yunxiao, and subconsciously hugged Meng Qingqian's arm, and then touched her hand with her little hand.
Meng Qingrou had only walked side by side with two people in her life, one was her sister Meng Qingqian, and the other was He Yunxiao. She had always been with He Yunxiao before, and the subconscious habit had been formed.
Meng Qingqian looked at her sister's skillful movements, and her face was full of question marks.
Meng Qingqian: ? ? ? ? ? ?
Meng Qingrou didn't realize it at first, but when she realized it, her face immediately turned red, and she was extremely shy. She wanted to disappear from this world on the spot. The only thing to be thankful for was that there were only two sisters here, and no one else saw it.
"Sister, it's not, it's not what you think!"
Meng Qingqian said coldly: "Does that bastard He Yunxiao often come to Linxuan Palace to see you."
"No, no..."
"No? I will ask the palace guards not to let him in again."
"Hey, hey, hey, sister! Don't! He, he doesn't come often. Just, come once in a while."
Meng Qingrou's face was hot after telling a lie. She was extremely ashamed.
Before, she was furious with He Yunxiao because he lied to her, and now she herself has become a little bad guy who loves to lie. Now I always feel sorry for He Yunxiao. During that period, He Yunxiao was bullied by her until he was so timid that he couldn't even speak.
As it was a matter of the royal family's reputation, Meng Qingqian didn't intend to delve into the matter further.
She knew that Nanzhu's words "once in a while" were not credible. According to the lustful heart and courage of He Yunxiao, he would probably come to Nanzhu every two or three days. Otherwise, Nanzhu's arm-holding action would never be so skillful.
"Nanzhu."
"Ah?"
"How far have you and He Yunxiao gone?"
Meng Qingrou's beautiful face was flushed with shame. "What are you talking about, sister..."
Meng Qingqian snorted coldly: "If that bastard dares to take your body before marriage and ruin the reputation of my Meng royal family, I will personally chop off his crime tools!"
Meng Qingrou shook her sister's arm and said coquettishly: "Sister, no..."
"No is the best."
"Sister, come with Nanzhu. Nanzhu made a sachet for you. This sachet is made of Ningshen grass and bitter leaves. Its fragrance can relieve sister's headache and help sister fall asleep at night. Look, Nanzhu also embroidered sister's name here!"
The embroidery of this sachet is not really good, just barely, but considering that it was made by her sister, Meng Qingqian solemnly put it in her arms.
Rubbing her sister's face, Meng Qingqian said: "Okay, sister will always carry it. Just think of it as a talisman given to sister by Nanzhu."
"Yeah."